David Walliams has been accused of using his status as a celebrity to prey on vulnerable teenagers and young women for sex. The allegations stem from a three-year investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, which claims he abused his power and position for sexual purposes on multiple occasions.
Investigation Details
The investigation features a number of women describing how Walliams allegedly preyed on them for sexual purposes. One woman claims he first contacted her when she was 15 after meeting her at a Little Britain fan event, and alleges they began a sexual relationship when she was 17.
The investigation also reveals he had a sexual relationship with at least one junior employee at a book publisher and pursued another. Further details of the allegations will air on ITV tonight at 10.50pm and on the ITV News channel.
Walliams' Response
Walliams denies any wrongdoing and insists he is “not a sexual predator”. In a letter to journalists working on the investigation, he wrote: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with. I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”
He added: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Background and Career Impact
Walliams has largely been out of the public spotlight in 2026. His book publisher HarperCollins dropped him in December 2025 following an investigation into allegations he had “harassed” young women. At the time, Walliams strongly denied the allegations. A statement from a spokesperson in December said: “David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.”
The former Britain’s Got Talent judge, known for comedy shows including Come Fly With Me and Little Britain alongside Matt Lucas, has sold more than 60 million copies of his books globally. They include The Boy In The Dress, Fing, and Gangsta Granny, the latter of which was turned into a one-hour BBC special in 2013, followed by a sequel starring Sheridan Smith in 2022.
He left Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after apologising for making “disrespectful comments” about auditioning contestants during filming breaks in January 2020 at the London Palladium. In 2023, Britain’s Got Talent producer Fremantle apologised and reached an “amicable resolution” with Walliams after the remarks he made while on the show were leaked.
According to industry magazine Deadline, as part of the investigation journalists have spoken to more than 100 people, including more than 30 sources said to have first-hand accounts. These include friends, colleagues, former partners, relatives, and other sources. The Guardian has been investigating Walliams since 2023, when they first received allegations about his conduct in professional and personal contexts. ITV News are reported to have also been working on a separate investigation into the celebrity’s conduct toward junior female employees at another workplace. The two news organisations then combined forces in April 2023.
